[pngpearson]

I've landed myself in an interesting situation in that I bought a CB750 basket case a few months back from a lady who had recently broken up with her boyfriend and, to settle his debt to her, he let her keep his bike and a big TV. So I bought the bike for $300, with the knowledge that he has the title in his name. I've been quite busy since then and I'm looking to get the title now.

I have the following information: his name, where he works, and his home address (which I found in the police log after googling his name).

So if you were me, how would you go about this? Call his work and explain the situation to him? Send a letter to his house? I don't really want to just show up at his house in person without warning.


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[Old Dad]

No matter how you approach him, he's likely to hit you up for some bucks $ for the title, depends on how that break up went.

 

[tbfoto]

I think if he holds the title.....he owns the bike. Regardless of who you paid money to. He may tell you to go fly a kite!

 

[Giannishreds]

Ask her to get the title. Perhaps he would hand it over to her just not to hear her voice.

 

[smilie]

Sounds like an ebay parts sale. Good luck ever getting that title in your name.

 

[NorTex]

Ask her to contact her attorney, assuming that she has legal right to the bike from the divorce court.

 

[adlowe]

Ask her to contact her attorney, assuming that she has legal right to the bike from the divorce court.

Divorce courts don't usually get involved when folks aren't married.

...from a lady who had recently broken up with her boyfriend...

 

[skullcap]

I would expect the ex-boyfriend to extract some money from you first, and then let you know he lost the title. Then I would expect when you went to do some paperwork, the bike would show up as reported stolen.

 

[Merlin02]

I would try the easiest route first. Give the guy a call and explain the situation. Maybe he's a stand up guy and will sign off on the title and just give it to you. You can always try a "Plan B" later.

I definitely wouldn't piss anyone one off. In this situation, he can legally take possession anytime he chooses.

 

[Eagle7840]

I've landed myself in an interesting situation in that I bought a CB750 basket case a few months back from a lady who had recently broken up with her boyfriend and, to settle his debt to her, he let her keep his bike and a big TV. So I bought the bike for $300, with the knowledge that he has the title in his name. I've been quite busy since then and I'm looking to get the title now.

I have the following information: his name, where he works, and his home address (which I found in the police log after googling his name).

So if you were me, how would you go about this? Call his work and explain the situation to him? Send a letter to his house? I don't really want to just show up at his house in person without warning.


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If he left the bike with his ex-girl friend he should have transfered/signed over the title in her name. That is if he ever had the title in the first place. Let her do the leg work to get the title and never contact anyone one at their workplace regarding such matters. Employers have policies against contacting employees unless it's from a family member and a medical emergency. Hopefully you haven't committed any money for the sale, yet.

 

[pastordave1]

First I hope you got a receipt so if all goes bad you can try and get your money back and if so ask her to get the title signed and get it to you. I think asking him may be asking for trouble. I personally would wonder why he would give her the bike without the title unless its either stolen or he wants to use it as some kind of leverage over her in the future. Just try to be kind and calm.
I always get a written receipt for anything to prove its mine in the future and if its something with a title I get it in hand at the time of the money exchange then there's no questions in the future.

 

[Gnarly]

Best of luck.

 

[MikeB]

I would not try to part out a bike which belongs to someone else lest you find yourself Googling your own name on the police log. I would take it back to the seller immediately and try to get your money back. Even if she won't pony up (and she probably won't) LEAVE IT THERE. Otherwise if the owner is a real jerk (and he probably is) he can report it stolen and you will be the one holding the swag.

It will be interesting to find out how this scenario unfolds but to me it looks like a $300 lesson in human nature which, hopefully, will prevent even more costly mistakes in the future.

 

[big poppa pump]

Approach the lady who sold you the bike and tell her the bike is no good without the title and see if she is willing to refund your money back. If it works out, great! If not keep the bike and take her to small claims court.

 

[MikeB]

Approach the lady who sold you the bike and tell her the bike is no good without the title and see if she is willing to refund your money back. If it works out, great! If not keep the bike and take her to small claims court.

And tell the judge that you bought a motorcycle from someone that you knew didn't even legally own it?

No! It can be construed as stolen property, and if the buyer KNOWS the seller doesn't own it there is culpability there as well. This is very shaky legal ground and the OP ought to get off it ASAP.

Just MHO. I'm neither a lawyer or a cop, but.......

 

[jpr1968]

I've landed myself in an interesting situation in that I bought a CB750 basket case a few months back from a lady who had recently broken up with her boyfriend and, to settle his debt to her, he let her keep his bike and a big TV. So I bought the bike for $300, with the knowledge that he has the title in his name. I've been quite busy since then and I'm looking to get the title now.

I have the following information: his name, where he works, and his home address (which I found in the police log after googling his name).

So if you were me, how would you go about this? Call his work and explain the situation to him? Send a letter to his house? I don't really want to just show up at his house in person without warning.


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Did you even get a bill of sale from the lady? If not and the boyfriend finds out you have it, he may take legal action against you for taking his bike(if it actually is his). Good luck trying to prove in court that the lady in question sold you the bike unless she comes forward. If you were to do a title search for the bike, you may find that someone else is the legal owner. Trying to get a title for it could prove to be a real problem for you.

 

[PA Dave]

And tell the judge that you bought a motorcycle from someone that you knew didn't even legally own it?

No! It can be construed as stolen property, and if the buyer KNOWS the seller doesn't own it there is culpability there as well. This is very shaky legal ground and the OP ought to get off it ASAP.

Just MHO. I'm neither a lawyer or a cop, but.......

^^^I agree with this.^^^

The stage is set for all sorts of problems. He can claim he never turned the bike over to her. He still has the title to document that. Add to this that there is likely to be some animosity between the two parties and the chances that the truth will dominate is pretty slim.

Take it back to her, ask for either the title or your money (hopefully she gave you a recipt) and don't move the bike from her property without the title. If you have no recipt, you are likely out of luck.

 

[Bigboy Al]

Hate to say it but I wouldn't have gone the deal if I didn't know there was a clear title in the hand of the seller. That said, make it her problem and tell her you need her to grab the title from her Ex.

Not knowing how things went down with the split I'd worry he pulls the "she had no right selling it speech" and get you in trouble with the law.

 

[Wombatair]

First don't be namby pamby about this, be stern.

You need to re-contact the girl in person prefered(phone she will blow you off, if she has already got your money) and see she if she can get the title from him signed. If she gives you any bad answers you should let her know that she could be(if the bike owner wanted too) pinned for selling stolen bike. Bike owner can say he was just storing it with her... No bill of sale, your in a tight spot.

If she can not, then a slight firm approach the bike owner for the title. If he does not have it then press him for a bill of sale no price needed on paper(if you went lost title route he would have file for it and it will be mailed to him you don't want that), you just need him stating settlement of debt. Hopefully he's not a con-artest as he might try and say bike stolen, so you would have to be prepared with a comeback of you and his ex-girlfriend prepared to do court on him. And if that does not work you will have to do a Bonded Title for abandoned bike in storage $100-500.

She is the only witness you have about debt bike owner had. No court will let you have have it, its all about contracts written or verbal, and verbal contract change each time someone wakes up. Small claims court has no authority in anything, you can tell a JP to go suck eggs.

Now HOW do YOU know the bike owner(ex-boyfriend) is really the legal titled owner, he could have paid $400 for it from some guy who had a bank lean on it or they found it in my garage thats missing...

Sometime a good deal is not a good deal. I hope it worth three times the $300 you paid.

 

[Wombatair]

never contact anyone one at their workplace regarding such matters. Employers have policies against contacting employees unless it's from a family member and a medical emergency. Hopefully you haven't committed any money for the sale, yet.

That's not true at all. A personal debt you can go to their Home, Work, School and Church to get money. The last three can ask you to leave once, but everyone now knows your a bad debt'er by then.. Job done.. Next call you HR dept. for the money.